BRIDGEPORT >> Kevin Ollie grew up in Los Angeles, but he’s got plenty of family ties to Bridgeport.

His wife, Stephanie, hails from the city and graduated from Kolbe Cathedral, and her parents have lived on Boston Avenue for years (though her father passed away just last week).

With that in mind, it’ll be a sort of homecoming for Ollie on Dec. 28, when the UConn men’s basketball team hosts Eastern Washington at Webster Bank Arena — the first in-state UConn home game to be played outside of Hartford or Storrs since Jan. 3, 1987, when the Huskies faced Syracuse at New Haven Coliseum.

“This is a wonderful moment for our program,” Ollie said on Monday morning from the Limerick Pub inside the arena. “We look forward to coming down to the Fairfield County area. Hopefully, we show you all a great show, and hopefully we go out and win a basketball game and also win the hearts of our fans. Because that’s what we really want to do.”

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The UConn women’s team has played NCAA tournament games in Bridgeport in recent years and will also be playing a regular-season game this season, on Jan. 11 against Temple. Both games are during semester break, and the men’s game (a 1 p.m. start) is three days after Christmas, typically a good time for the Huskies to draw fans outside of Storrs.

It’s all about increasing the UConn brand name throughout the state, according to Ollie and athletic director Warde Manuel.

“It’s a win-win for us. We want to connect throughout this state with our fans, our donors and our alums,” said Manuel, noting that some 30,000 UConn alumni live in Fairfield County and nearly a quarter of the school’s current students hail from the area.

Added Ollie: “Some people can’t drive up to Storrs, they can’t drive up to Hartford. Having it right around the corner from them, they can come in and see the fans, see the spirit and integrate themselves into Husky Pride. That’s what it’s all about.”

Webster Bank Arena holds about 8,500 for basketball games, and those involved with the game — including Harbord Yard Sports and Entertainment president Howard Saffan and Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, are expecting a sellout.

“I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by us,” Finch said to Manuel.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that the Huskies continue to play games in Bridgeport in future years. UConn has 17 games contracted to play at the XL Center this year between the men and the women. There is no such contract for next year as of yet, largely a result of the recent shifting of management at the XL Center. Reports have indicated that Mohegan Sun Casino hopes to attract men’s and women’s regular-season games in the future.

“We’re looking to see how this goes,” Manuel said. “There’s no long-term plan at this point. But I think we’re pleased with the relationship we have developed with them, we’re pleased with the way the arena is and what they’ve done and the efforts they’ve made to make the fan experience great here. We’ll see how it goes in the future.”

For Ollie, he only wishes his father-in-law could have been around to see the game.

“But I know his spirit is right here,” Ollie noted. “He loved Bridgeport, he loved the community here. It’s just unfortunate he’s not going to be here to see this game. But I know he’s going to be here.”

Tickets for both games will go on sale on Friday, Oct. 18. More information can be found by calling the Click It or Ticket Box Office at (203) 345-2300.